Make the effort.

When we are followers of Jesus, we should have some traits that mark us as belonging to Jesus. Some of these may come easily to you but others mat take some work to implement them in your life. Look at this verse:

2 Peter 1:5-7

Fruitful Growth in the Faith

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
Let’s break these verses down to grasp the full meaning. 

1. diligence-constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken. So we are to put an all out effort to obtain this growth in the faith!

2. virtue-conformity of one's life and conduct to moral and ethical principles. Is your life morally in line with God’s Word or with what the world says is morally ok? 

3. knowledge-your main knowledge is to be God’s Word. Sadly most are ignorant of the most important book in the world. You can not live a godly life without a good knowledge of God’s Word!

4. self-control-this may be the toughest for it requires discipline. Can we discipline ourselves fully to be in line with God’s desires for our lives? The key here is do we want to be in line with God!!!

5. perseverance-desire to stay after a course of action no matter the obstacles. This is key to our faithful walk with God. Remember we have an enemy who desires for us to fall on our face.

6. godliness-conforming to the laws and wishes of God. Are we conforming to God or the world? Remember self-control!
7. kindness-Are we kind....always?

8. love- a great love for God and others, even our enemies as we keep in mind eternity and where folks will spend it. 

So as you can see we have plenty to work on in our growth in the faith. I pray that our desire is to grow closer and more obedient to God’s call on our lives in 2016. Let’s do this brothers and sisters!

Tom